A groundbreaking new partnership that will unlock career pathways in the built
environment and develop cutting-edge skills to power the North East economy has
been announced today.
EducationPartnership North East (EPNE) and Northumbria University have unveiled a new
partnership that will strengthen links between the two organisations, something
that will come to life at the Housing Innovation and Construction Skills
Academy (HICSA), a state-of-the-art facility that will educate, train, and
upskill local people in housebuilding, commercial construction, modern methods
and green construction techniques, including home retrofit.
In a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Ellen Thinnesen OBE, Chief Executive
of EPNE, and Professor Andy Long, Vice Chancellor of Northumbria University,
the organisations have laid out plans to work together to create a cohesive strategic approach to education and
skills, joining up further and higher education systems, and aligning with the
priorities of the North East Combined Authority, Skills England and
government's Missions and Industrial Strategy.
In practice, the organisations will collaborate
in a range of ways, including providing clear and aligned educational pathways
for learners who will have guaranteed progression routes into further and higher
education, recognising their hard work, commitment and achievements. In addition, Northumbria University
and EPNE will also work on a range of projects – delivered in partnership – to
highlight outstanding pedagogy, undertake research, and identify international
best practice.
One key aspect of the partnership is a
collaboration around EPNE’s £20m HICSA, creating
a unique regional Technical Centre of Excellence, with Northumbria University
supplying on-site graduate researchers and expertise in technologies and
innovation. The aim of the partnership
is to ensure there are clear and visible routes for progression for people
studying at HICSA, who will benefit from exceptional teaching and facilities,
underpinned by this growing partnership.
To
mark this milestone occasion, key stakeholders from Homes England, SunderlandCity Council, Brims Construction and Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust
joined EPNE and Northumbria University at the site of HICSA to provide their
support for the partnership.
Ellen
Thinnesen OBE said: “We are thrilled to have agreed a partnership with
Northumbria University that will ensure every person who studies with us at
EPNE has access to a seamless ladder of opportunity to higher level study and
employment. This partnership will be
particularly visible at HICSA, where there is such strong synergy between the outstanding
technical study routes we offer and the excellent under and post graduate
opportunities that Northumbria University offers”.
“ As
a regional Centre of Excellence, HICSA’s strategic connection with Northumbria
University will see the systems of further and higher education brought closer
together, supporting the priorities of government, widening opportunities, and
enabling growth for the construction industries, now and into the future”.
Located
in the heart of one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration sites – Riverside
Sunderland – HICSA will see a former-goods-shed fully restored and renovated,
and connected to an aspirational new building that will be large enough to
accommodate house height buildings, immersive tech and Business Information
Modelling (BIM) suites, technical workshops and classrooms - learning
environments that will mirror the challenges of the real world.
Professor
Andy Long said: “HICSA is a magnificent facility and a brilliant place for EPNE
and Northumbria University to launch a high-profile and productive new
partnership that will support hundreds of young people to realise their
potential, as well as delivering for industry and for the region’s economy”.
“I am
delighted that this will be one of a number of new collaborative projects we will
be working on with EPNE, a partnership that I am certain will go from
strength-to-strength in the months and years ahead.”
Led
by EPNE, built by Sunderland City Council and originally backed by Homes
England and the Ministry for
Housing, Communities and Local Government– HICSA has been designed to
create a multi-provider delivery site with an ecosystem of stakeholders behind
its development and model of implementation. Together partners will provide the
skills pipeline for the construction industries and its subsectors.
As a
skills gateway, training will include all available funded pathways
specifically for the housing and construction industries and will be available
from age 14 through to adulthood. Dedicated
programmes have also been designed to attract new and typically underrepresented
recruits into the industry.
Opening
in 2025, HICSA will bring together a unique partnership which includes
Sunderland College and Northumbria University, alongside Gentoo Housing, Bishop
Chadwick Catholic Education Trust and Sunderland City Council. The aim is to develop an eco-system that can
take people from the age of 14 into meaningful study and work opportunities,
providing them with a route to higher level qualifications at the
University. Working with Gentoo and Bishop
Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, local students can study towards a
specialised construction qualification alongside their GCSEs, supported by
Sunderland College. As well as workshops
and training at HICSA, pupils will also experience learning visits to Gentoo
construction sites, who will also provide work experience placements. In the
coming years the Academy will be opened to other schools to serve other
businesses offering guaranteed apprenticeships.
